It’s common knowledge that this could well be Arsene Wenger’s last season as manager of Arsenal football club, with the Frenchman’s contract ending in the summer and uncertainty surrounding whether he’ll be offered a new deal. As a result the media has been linking various different Managers as potential replacements for Arsene Wenger, if Le Prof does leave in the summer.
The media has previously linked the Gunners with considering both Diego Simeone and Eddie Howe as potential replacements for Wenger, but we haven’t heard much since both were last connected with Arsenal. Germany boss Jochaim Low has also been linked with the Gunners and he is considered to be a favoured candidate for many fans. Today however, rumours have suggested that another candidate for the Arsenal job could be Massimiliano Allegri.
Allegri, who is the current manager of Seria A and European giant Juventus, may consider a move to the Premier League after so far spending his entire managerial career in Italy. The former midfielder has moved up the ranks of Italian football, having made his managerial debut back in 2003. His latest two jobs have been his most successful so far, having managed both AC Milan and Juventus and achieving major honours at both.
Allegri is considered to be one of the strongest current managers in the professional game, especially in terms of those linked with the Gunners job, but is he the right man for Arsenal? Some will argue that Allegri has inherited a very strong Juventus side and so much like Guardiola now at Man City, formerly of Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Allegri may find the Premier League much harder than his time at both AC Milan and Juventus.
Another concern may be that he’s stated on previous occasions that he plans on retiring from management at 55 years old. The Italian is already 49 and with plans of also supposedly managing the Italian national team, it could mean that the Gunners would be approaching someone who may not have the right mentality and ambition to take the club forward just like Arsene Wenger has in his last 20 years of commitment. Someone like Eddie Howe would be more likely to offer the Gunners bosses something along these lines.
Allegri is of course a decorated manager in success and trophies, but personally I don’t feel he is the right candidate for the Arsenal job. He’s a world class name in European football, but I think an investment in the likes of Howe, Low or Simeone would be much more favourable for the Gunners.
Should Allegri be a candidate to replace Arsene Wenger at the end of the season?
By AH